Rail clamp



Oct. 9 1923.

R. G. MANNING RAIL CLAMP Filed may 17 2 Sheets-Sheetl 1 R. G. MANNINGOct. 9 i923.

RAIL' .CLAMP Filed May/ 17,

1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 9, 1923.

ROLLO G. MANNING, on Ansinnen, ,PENNSYLVANIA RAIL CLAMP.

Application filed May 17,

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROLLO G. MANNING,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of Ambridge, in the countyof Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Rail Clamps, of which the following is a specii`cation.

This invention relates to rail clamps and more particularly toadjustable rail clamps adapted to line up, clamp, andfirmly hold a railto its support, and has for one yof its objects the provision of suchl aclamp particu# larly adapted for use in clamping rails supportingturntables,

the like.

Another object is to provide a clamp of this class that may be securelvvlocked in its adjusted position. f

A further Object is t0 provide a clamp of this class that will permitvery slight .adjustments of the rail at right angles to the normalupright position of the rail. f f

A still further object is to provide arail clamp having the novelconstruction, design, and combination of parts hereinafter described.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan of a rail secured in poi sition byclamps constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a .sectional elevation through the rail of Figure 1, showingone of the clamps in elevation and the other lin section."

Figure 3 is a plan of the eccentric adjusting disk or washer.

Figure 4 is a plan of a slightly modied form of clamp. ,l

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation through a rail having the clamps ofFigure 3 ap-l plied thereto, the one clamp being in section and theother being in elevation.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, thenumeral 2 designates a rail adapted to be secured on a supporting plate3 by the clamps A.

The clamps A comprise a clamping plate 5 which is cut away along its oneedge to form an extended flange 6 and shoulder 7, adapted to overlie thetop face of, and contact with the edge of the base flange orp the rail,respectively. The plate 5 is provided with a centrally arranged circularopening traveling cranes, and

1923. serial No. 639,589.

8 which is enlarged at its upper end as at 9 Jo-iforin. a seat for Yawasher 10.

TheV washer l0 is provided with an eccentrically positioned aperture10@L adapted to receive a bolt 11 which .p-assesthrough the. opening 8and, is secured in the supporting plate 3. The washer 10 also isprovided With an aperture 12 for the reception of a suitable wrench ortoolused in rotating the washer. relative to the clamping plate 5, and.to permit the operator to insert his finger or a toolk in lifting theWasher from its seat.

It will'be readily understood that any rotation orn the washer 10relative to the clamping plate 5 will, due to the eccentric mounting orthe washer, cause the` plate 5 to move toward or away-from the rail.

The lside wall of the enlarged portion of the openingl 8, forming seatV9, has its side walls provided with aplurality or series ofsemi-circular recessesor notches la which extend around its entirecircumference, and the washer 10 yis provided with three similarArecesses or notches 15 whichl are adapted to cooperate with the notchesletto form circular openings for the reception of a locking pin 16. Thepin 16 `is adapted to be inserted in the opening formed by theregistering notches 14 and 15 after the washer l0 has been rotated toadjust the. rail and forms a positive lock to prevent further movementof the washer relative to `the clamping plate. v

A. suitable covering disk or washer 18 is mounted over the bolt 1l andextends partly over both the clamping plate 5 and `the washer 10 and isadapted to cover the opening .formed by the cooperating notches let and15. v l

The `bolt 11 is provided with nuts 19 `and 20 which are adapted to betightened down against the washer 18 to secure the several partstogether. It, for any reason, the nuts 19 and 2O should become loosened,the rail 2 will not be effected since the locking pin 16 will hold theseveral parts intheir adjusted position. o f

1n Figures 4 and 5 I have shown a slightly modiiied form of clamp inwhich the notches'- let are omitted from the walls of the seat port-ion9 and a tongue or lug 25 substituted, and in which the three notches 1 5in the Washer l0 are i'eplaced With a continuous series of notches 26extending entirely around its circumference.

in this construction when it is desired to adjust the rail it will benecessary to loosen the nuts i9 and 20 sufhciently to permit the washerl() to be lifted out ot' the seat 9 and to then rotate it about the boltl1 until the desired. adjustment is made, when the Washer will be againseated with one of the notches 2G registering with the lug 25. It willalso be noted that the covering plate or Washer 18 is omitted from themodiii'ed construction of Figures 4; and 5 since there is no looselocking pin as inv the preferred construction and, therefore, the washer18 is unnecessary.

`While l have shown and described two embodiment-s of my invention, itWill Vbe understood that my invention is not limited to theseconstructions, since various modilications which Will readily suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art, may be made ivithoutdepartingfrom the scope o my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claiml. The combination With a rail supporting member, of means Jfor-adjustably securing a rail to said member, said means comprising aclamping plate having a circular opening therein, an eccentric Washermember mounted in said opening, said clamping plate having its Wallssurrounding said opening provided with a series of semicircular notchesextending around its entire circumference, and said Washer beingprovided with a plurality of corresponding semi-circular notches adaptedto cooperate i iviththe notches in said plate to form circular openingsfor the reception of a suitable loclring pin, a covering disk mountedover said eccentric Washer and extending over a portion of said clampingplate, and a bolt passing through said disk, said Washer, and said railsupporting member, said bolt being adapted to secure all of said partstogether.

2. The combination with a rail supporting member, of means tor-adjustably securing a rail tov said member, said means comprising aclamping plate having a circular opening therein, an eccentiic Washermember mounted in said opening, said Washer being provided ivith aseries of notches.l means cooperating with said notches to lock saidWasher against movement relative to said clamping plate, and a boltpassing through said Washer and said plate to secure said parts togetherand form a pivotal mounting for said Washer.

3. The combination with a rail supporting member, of means foradjustably securing a rail to said member, said means comprising aclamping plate having a circular opening therein, an eccentric Washermember mounted in said opening, said Washer being provided With a seriesof notches, means cooperating with said notches to lock said Washeragainst movement rel-` ative to said clamping plate, said Washer beingprovided with 'a tool receiving aperture adapted to receive a tool tofacilitate the adjustment of said Washer, and a bolt passing throughsaid Washer and said plate t0 secure said parts together and form apivotal mounting for said Washer.

et. Means for adjustably securing rails to a supporting membercomprising a Iclamping plate adapted to engage `the edge and Overlie thebase flange of a rail, said plate being provided with aI 'circularopening therein, an eccentric Washer mounted in said opening, a boltpassing through said Washer, said plate and said supporting mem-A bei'to secure the several parts together and form a pivotal mounting forsaid Washer, and means for locking said Washer against movementrelative` to said clampingplate.

5. Means for adjustably securing rails to a supporting member comprisinga clamping plate ladapted to engage the edge and overlie the base flangeof arail, said plate therein, an eccentric -Washer mounted in saidopening, a bolt passing through said Washer, said plate and saidsupporting member to secure the several parts together and vbeingprovided with a circular opening form a pivotal mounting for saidWasher,

means for locking said Washer againstmovement relative to said clampingplate, and a covering disk mounted `on said bolt and adapted to overliesaid Washer and said clamping plate to prevent accidental ,dislodgmentof said locking means.

6. Means for adjustably securing rails to a supporting member comprisinga clamping `plate adapted to engage the edge and Overlie the baseflangeof a rail, said plate being provided with a circular opening therein, aneccentric Washer mounted in said opening, a bolt passing through saidWasher, said plate andfsaid supporting mem-,

ber to secure the several parts together and Jform a pivotal mountingfor said Washer, a plurality of cooperating notches formed in saidWasher and said clamping plate, and a locking pin adapted to be insertedin the aperture ormedby the registering ones of said notches to locksaid Washer against* i said notches to a plurality of cooperatingnotches formed in said washer and said clamping plate, :1` looking pinadapted to be inserted in the aperture formed by the registering ones oflocksaid Washer against movement relative to said clamping plate, and acovering disk mounted on said bolt and adapted to overle said Washer andsaid clamping plate to prevent accidental dislodgment of said lockingmeans.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

ROLLO G. MANN IN G.

